At least eight people were killed and dozens wounded in the Gaza Strip Wednesday morning when Israeli forces raided the A-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, according to news reports.
Medical sources said five of the victims were factory employees; three others belonged to the military wing of Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli army maintains the area is rife with terror activity and that Palestinians opened fire on the forces, to which the army responded, according to the Hebrew news portal Ynet.
The army also claimed that civilians and soldiers in the area are frequently targeted with gunfire and mortars.
Eyewitnesses claimed Israeli tanks and bulldozers were razing agricultural land in the area and that Palestinians launched RPGs on the tanks.
Palestinian sources said a medic was wounded in the clash and an ambulance was damaged in the crossfire.